[ad_1]
Chris Mooney
Reporter covering climate change, energy and the environment.
Elise Viebeck
Business and Research Journalist focused on politics
Following the devastation of Hurricane Michael and a recent United Nations report warning of an imminent climate crisis, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow and Senator Marco Rubio questioned Sunday the 39 magnitude of human contribution to rising global temperatures.
"I think they overestimate," said Kudlow about the US report, which had revealed that policy changes were to continue at an unprecedented rate over the next 12 years to prevent temperatures from rising. increase by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above the pre-industrial temperature of the Earth.
"I do not deny any problem of climate change," Kudlow told ABC's "This Week" show. "I say simply, do we know exactly?" . . things such as its share of anthropogenic origin, its share of solar energy, its share of ocean, its share of rainforest and other problems? "
Rubio (R-Fla.), Speaking on CNN about the effects of Hurricane Michael, said that sea level and ocean temperature had increased "measurably" and that humans had played a role. But he questioned the size of this role.
"I think that many scientists would discuss the percentage of what is attributable to humans in relation to normal fluctuations," Rubio said on "the state of the Union".
The scientific view is that humanity is the main cause of global warming, and the recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United States (IPCC) reinforces this conclusion.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). (J. Scott Applewhite / AP)
The study found that "human activities" caused a warming of 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since the end of the 19th century, and that [human-caused] global warming corresponds to the observed level of warming within ± 20%. "
On ABC, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Called Kudlow's comments "so irresponsible, so dangerous."
"We are in a crisis mode and your administration hardly recognizes the reality of climate change. Their policies, in conjunction with the fossil fuel sector, make this worse, "said Sanders.
The debate took place while the Florida government was leading recovery efforts after Michael, who had caused a sensation last week as a Category 4 storm. The hurricane killed more than a dozen of people and flattened areas such as Mexico Beach and Panama City, which, according to Rubio, will have to be "totally rebuilt".
Senator Jeff Flake (Arizona). (Jacquelyn Martin / AP)
While scientists are reluctant to attribute an event to climate change, Michael is the kind of event that will happen more often, unless countries significantly reduce their carbon emissions.
The storm flew over unusually warm ocean waters and quickly intensified just prior to landing, a phenomenon that, according to some research, will occur more frequently in a warmer climate. The storm surge was higher and traveled further inland than if the same storm had happened a century ago.
Rubio acknowledged that his state, with its 8,500 km of coastline, was already experiencing the effects of rising sea levels and rising temperatures.
Beyond Michael, these effects were considerable.
Florida's coral reef, one of the largest in the world, was laundered in 2014 and 2015 in warmer waters. It appears that nuisance floods have occurred in the Miami-Dade property market.
Rubio has been the most brutal in the face of rising sea levels, which he describes as an inevitable effect of warming temperatures. Scientists agree that sea levels could rise for centuries as the planet adapts to rising temperatures.
"It does not matter what we do, no matter what we do with the law, if we stop all carbon tomorrow. . . this trend would continue again, "said Rubio about the rise in sea level.
He added that while he had campaigned for "mitigation strategies" to protect coastal communities in Florida, he would not support policies that would "destroy our economy."
"There is a reality here, and there is a balance in this regard that we need to focus on," said Rubio.
The IPCC, the world's leading scientific body on climate change, said rapid changes to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius would cost about half a trillion dollars a year more worldwide than needed to maintain warming at 2 degrees Celsius. Faster measures, including changes in energy, transportation and other systems, will actually cost more money, he added.
But the effects of climate change also cost a lot. The study cites research suggesting that the cost of warming up to 2 degrees Celsius, instead of keeping it at 1.5 degrees Celsius, could represent between 0.35 and 0.6 percent of the US gross domestic product.
Senator Jeff Flake (R-Arizona), who does not run for reelection, described the IPCC report as "pretty dreadful" and urged Republicans to take the initiative in the fight against rising temperatures for political reasons.
"I hope we can move forward with the rest of the world and solve this problem," Flake told ABC.
"It is going to be difficult. . . but there are things we can do and should do, and I think Republicans must be in the vanguard if we want to keep our place and our seats, "he said.
[ad_2]Source link
